Archive for the 'Special Needs Children' Category

Sending Your Child with Special Needs to Camp

You’ve done it - you’ve taken the plunge and decided to send your child to camp this summer. There are many types of camps to choose from, including camps intended just for your child’s special needs to mainstream camps where your child will be with kids who have no special needs. You’ve done your research, and now that you and your child have made up your minds, what can you do to get ready?

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). Cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities.

CP is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child’s life. There is no cure for CP, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help a child who is living with the condition.

Egg Allergy

The American Egg Board calls it incredible, but for children with an egg allergy, the egg is simply inedible.

One of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, egg allergy can pose many challenges for parents. Because eggs are used in many of the foods kids eat - and in many cases they’re “hidden” ingredients - an egg allergy is hard to diagnose. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to monitor what their children eat and to consult with the doctor when they have concerns about a possible allergic reaction.

Understanding Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a type of learning disability in which a child has difficulty learning to read and understand written language. Even kids with average or above-average intelligence, plenty of motivation, and ample opportunities to read can have dyslexia. Because kids with dyslexia have trouble making the basic connection between letters and their sounds, they often also have difficulty with spelling, writing, and speaking.

Estimates are that up to 20% of all people in the United States have a reading disability and that 85% of those people have dyslexia. It’s not clear what causes dyslexia, which can vary widely in terms of severity, but some research shows that it is inherited.

Nine Steps to More Effective Parenting

Raising children is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world - and the one for which you may feel the least prepared. Here are nine ways to tackle child-rearing responsibilities that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent - and enjoy your child more, too.